Opinion Harry O

[the_fresh]

He has good attacking skills.

Harry O killed Stevie J in the preliminary final in 2010.

When things go Harry's way, he is fine.

But how many times has he dropped it under a high ball.

He needs to be sat down and told to concentrate on defending and not doing the easy, flashy things which he wants to do.

I am a fan of his but he needs to be well coached.

what happened in the grand final last year?

 

[jonbe54]

what happened in the grand final last year?

We ran out of fit soldiers and everyone standing was overwhelmed. Thats what happened last year.

Honestly lets forget about individuals here. Our backline was a finely balanced unit until mass injuries set in, Harry can no longer do his job which is to provide attack from the half back line because his covering players are injured.

 

[rand corp]

hahaha played one game this year and its on one of the fastest and most gifted small players in the game, got exposed a few times, got caught a couple of times, had a bit of a dirty night but few in the game would have the better of Rioli all night. Aw what the heck, let's drop him. hahahaha

 

[Jelly Bean]

He has good attacking skills.

Harry O killed Stevie J in the preliminary final in 2010.

When things go Harry's way, he is fine.

But how many times has he dropped it under a high ball.

He needs to be sat down and told to concentrate on defending and not doing the easy, flashy things which he wants to do.

I am a fan of his but he needs to be well coached.

You won't get any disagreement that Harry is a terrible mark, and a even a little bit soft under the high ball.

But that doesn't change the fact that when he is on he is a wonderful attacking defender, and he was certainly worthy of AA in 2010. Nothing he does now can change that worthiness.

 

[Taco]

Yeah this is ridiculous, he wasn't even that bad last night - had a shocking first half and improved from there, Rioli had a 20 minute burst and then was virtually unseen (Daisy who was supposedly quiet beat him in all the main stats for example, including goals, clearances and GAs).
One of the big things that people don't notice, yet he ends up copping shit for, is his willingness to leave his opponent and help chop out a team mate. He did it multiple times last night and it's clearly an instruction so that we can get numbers at the contest, but the ball unluckily pried loose a few times and spat out to an opponent who wasn't directly manned.

He isn't great above his head, but he is still invaluable to us down back. People whinge about him doing 'flashy' stuff, but we would've been virtually stagnant into the backline without him attempting to break the lines last night. We need him carrying the ball now that we've lost Leon.

There are some seriously hysterical people in this thread. Simon Buckley would've had triple figures kicked on him last night by Rioli, but yeah, Harry should be dropped...

 

[Taco]

Harry O hasn't played well for two years.

Should never have been All Australian.

Rioli killed him last night. Stevie J killed him in the Grand Final.

Harry O has very few defensive skills.

Harry O needs a rocket up his backside.

Mate, just stick to the important lunch meetings, you're here to tell us who is staying and leaving at the club. We aren't paying you to provide terrible analysis on players, just focus on what you do best.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Some very good points in this thread and some shocking ones too by the usual suspect. The best point is that heseems to have become predictable and is not a great defensive player. If he is not careful, he could struggle to keep his place when we get full strength. Goldsack, toovs, Maxwell, shaw and tarrant to play as small/med defenders with Reid and brown key defenders

 

[HFF]

Had an ordinary game but will be fine.

I think he got wires crossed last night. He defended Cyril all wrong.

He tried to play in front like he does with most of his opponents and he beats them that way but with Cyril all the dangerous space is actually behind.

You cannot allow Cyril the space behind because if you do, zing, he is gone and it showed last night.

You are better off having him in front of you at all costs even if you are being led to the ball.

It's something Harry can work on next time but that's how he needs to defend someone like Cyril who is not a lead and mark player.

 

[lgarth80]

Rioli did not do much after half time.
Did we have another option given our outs? Maybe Shaw?

Harry took one for the team.

I think he is a vital member of our best backline for his run and carry. Hence he really needs to be freed from major shutdown roles, or taught to play them.

 

[sr36]

I don't get the theory that he can't defend. I think that his strength is his ability to match it with the most dangerous small/medium forwards. Judging by the fact that he generally gets the really dangerous guys - Cyril, Johnson, Milne, etc. I dare say that the Collingwood coaching staff agree with me. Obviously if you consistently play against this sort of quality you are going to get beaten at times. He's no Clement, but he's pretty good. Having said that, I wouldn't mind it if Toovey became the go to guy against the real threats.

 

[SnakePlisskin]

Couple of times he tried to do too much , he needs to go back to basics and defend , don't like like it when he gets caught and just drops the ball and throws the hands up for a free .

 

[Giant Sphinx]

Yeah this is ridiculous, he wasn't even that bad last night - had a shocking first half and improved from there, Rioli had a 20 minute burst and then was virtually unseen (Daisy who was supposedly quiet beat him in all the main stats for example, including goals, clearances and GAs).
One of the big things that people don't notice, yet he ends up copping shit for, is his willingness to leave his opponent and help chop out a team mate. He did it multiple times last night and it's clearly an instruction so that we can get numbers at the contest, but the ball unluckily pried loose a few times and spat out to an opponent who wasn't directly manned.

He isn't great above his head, but he is still invaluable to us down back. People whinge about him doing 'flashy' stuff, but we would've been virtually stagnant into the backline without him attempting to break the lines last night. We need him carrying the ball now that we've lost Leon.

There are some seriously hysterical people in this thread. Simon Buckley would've had triple figures kicked on him last night by Rioli, but yeah, Harry should be dropped...

Exactly what I was going to say.

For a guy who thinks about all the problems in the world Harry O needs to think about what he is doing on the field sometimes. Sometimes its ok to just kick the ball when you are surrounded isn't of trying to make things happen out of nowhere. He fought back well in the second half but as I said before could be because Rioli isn't a 4 quarter player. As for dropping him that's a little crazy.

 

[richo24]

Harry was the best we had available to stand Rioli. Too bad for Harry that Rioli is one of the quickest and best little men going around.

Harry just needs to get off the Karma bus and onto the Mongrel bus. He needs to get some agro at the ball!

 

[SuperSub17]

I think sometimes he just needs to kick it long. He tried to take on rioli twice, and amittedly once he slipped over, but he tries to run around his opponent far too often and gets caught. He runs awkwardky and is seemingky not as agile as he once was.

 

[Football God]

Maybe time for Harry to move to the wing?

Our backline needs to be stronger before we could think about that.

Maybe, makes room for goldy, brown and maxwell

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Harry needs to focus on the here and now. He cannot save the world unless he is a megastar. He should think faster, run harder, train with greater intensity and cleanse himself of any philanthropic thoughts until he rediscovers his old confidence and flair.

Harry should consider the fickle nature of football fans who only remember how you played in your last game, and the rest is history. The same people who love you, Harry, can just as easily dump you once your wick looks spent leaving only the tiniest sheath of a flame to light your journey.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Has he lost a yard of pace? I was watching Harry pretty closely.He didn't seem to be standing anywhere near his opponent at times. Receiving pats on the back after a mistake = Harry got about 5 from Reid and Keeffe.

 

[western royboy]

As an independent observer, this thread caught my eye. I have an interest in your team and I thought O'Brien played very selfish football the other night. On at least two occassions that I can remember he had an opportunity to release the ball to younger players, but he looked at them as if to say "na not giving it to you" and then blazed away and turned it over.

Belief in your ability is one thing, belief in your teammates is another. It was a worrying sign I thought.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Quite easily the worst game I've seen Harry play.

Has blinders on and couldn't see any teammates around him, and got caught to make it worse.

Let's not forget his inabilitiy to actually stand on his two feet. Hopefully that was an aberration, but I'm not so sure because he wasn't great last year either.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Harry's form has not been great of late. He seems caught between being a stopper and being a half back running player. We look much better when Harry is up & running off half back, but we need someone to shut down the small forwards and you can't afford to let them have any space. He needs to be one or the other in a game, not both. He seems frustrated that he can't impact the game more because he is tied to a dangerous player as a result he tries too much when he shouldn't.

Once our backline is settled he will be much better. I would love to see him play more up field in space and test out the opposition zones & presses. However, I can't see anyone on our list who can do a better stopping job than Harry on mid-small forwards. I think there will be times when Reid & Brown are playing that Tarrant can take these types. This will free up Harry.

 

[the woodsmen2010]

i blame fuzzy, since she dumped him his forms been average....

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Really, Harry should be up on the wing, or playing at half forward.

Goldsack should be playing in Harry's current spot, and Buckley should be coming in for Toovey. While both of them turn the ball over, at least Buckley turns it over 80m away with one kick, as opposed to 20m away after stubbing a toe into the ground. Buckley also kicks goals to make up for his errors.

I think Buckley can improve with consistent game time.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Really, Harry should be up on the wing, or playing at half forward.

Goldsack should be playing in Harry's current spot, and Buckley should be coming in for Toovey. While both of them turn the ball over, at least Buckley turns it over 80m away with one kick, as opposed to 20m away after stubbing a toe into the ground. Buckley also kicks goals to make up for his errors.

I think Buckley can improve with consistent game time.

Agree with Goldsack Ed. We need to keep him in the team playing consistent footy. He can play a role in defence. If Harry can do enough damage up the field, why not move him.

I can't agree on Buckley though, sure Tooves can cough it up, but its Tooves time without the ball that makes him so valueable. He gets to a lot of contests and no one gets cheap possies while he is around. This is Buckley's main weakness for mine - he doesn't win enough contests and apply enough pressure. Until he does this tehre is no way he can take Toovey's role.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Agree with Goldsack Ed. We need to keep him in the team playing consistent footy. He can play a role in defence. If Harry can do enough damage up the field, why not move him.

I can't agree on Buckley though, sure Tooves can cough it up, but its Tooves time without the ball that makes him so valueable. He gets to a lot of contests and no one gets cheap possies while he is around. This is Buckley's main weakness for mine - he doesn't win enough contests and apply enough pressure. Until he does this tehre is no way he can take Toovey's role.

You're right, but disposal isn't something you can teach. Pressure football is.

Buckley can be taught to be tighter in defence and use his body strength in a contest.

Toovey can't be taught how to dispose of the football any better than he does. He can't be taught any more footy smarts than he currently has. What you see with Toovey when he has the ball is what you get.

Yeah, Buckley makes poor decisions, but I'd rather a turnover 60-80m away from CHB, then a turnover in our D50 or half back.

My heart goes into my throat every single time Toovey has his hands on the ball.

But we're getting off topic.

 

[SuperSub17]

Harry doesn't Like it deep in defence at all, we need to be playing him at half back or the wing where he can intercept the oppositions kick, charge away and belt it into the forward line like he did towards the back end of 2010.

As far as the connotation of selfishness is concerned, while I agree with royboy that he blazed away a lot, I don't put that down to selfishness as much as trying to take the game on a little too far.